Engineer Friends Launch AI-Driven Hydroponic System for Growing Exotic Plants,

Calvin Aranha and Farish Anfal, hailing from Udupi, karnataka, founded Krop AI, a hydroponics startup that combines technology and automation to improve crop quality and yield. Traditionally, farmers have depended on rain, soil health, and costly pesticides, often facing significant financial strain from unpredictable weather and deteriorating soil conditions.

Determined to transform agriculture, Calvin and Farish incorporated Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their hydroponic farms to cultivate crops. At their vertical farm in Brahmavara, karnataka, they use AI to grow exotic plants like lettuce, basil, kale, and parsley.

After graduating from the mangalore Institute of technology and Engineering (MITE) in Moodabidri, the friends pursued careers in different fields—Calvin in Bengaluru’s corporate sector and Farish in a small seafood business. Through his business, Farish gained insight into the challenges faced by farmers. “I discovered that farmers struggled with profitability due to climate change and spoke with many to understand the extent of their difficulties,” he explains.

Farish emphasizes that indian farmers are heavily reliant on soil, water, and weather. “With rising costs and poor yields, farmers face significant losses and debt. Hydroponics offers a viable solution, using 95% less water and allowing crops to grow in a controlled environment with artificial lighting,” he notes.

Calvin adds that with groundwater depletion and decreasing agricultural land, food demand is rising. “Climate change is accelerating, leading to more crop loss. We realized that innovation in a controlled environment is essential, and AI can help us achieve our sustainability goals.”

The friends, sharing a passion for technology-driven agricultural solutions, decided to focus entirely on making farming more profitable. In 2021, Calvin left his corporate job, and both rented an apartment in Udupi to develop a prototype with their savings. After four months, they launched Krop AI.

Reducing operational costs by half through AI By providing container farm setups as an alternative to traditional polyhouse farming, Calvin and Farish aimed to increase farmers' income and resilience against climate change. They implemented advanced technology and automation to improve crop quality, taste, and efficiency while cutting operational costs. They designed their own 3D pipes for vertical farming, allowing precise control over environmental factors such as light spectrum and temperature.

Their system uses software to regulate irrigation, temperature, humidity, pH, and water conductivity, creating an optimal environment for plant growth. Krop AI was awarded the karnataka Government’s Idea2POC/Elevate/2023 grant in the biotech sector and is incubated at the AIC Nitte incubation center under the Startup india scheme.

Last year, Calvin and Farish achieved a revenue of Rs 50 lakh with a 40% gross profit from manufacturing farm stations, and they expect an annual turnover of Rs 3 crores this year. “Our technology enables us to grow crops indoors, eliminating the need for ideal weather conditions. Our plants thrive without sunlight and soil while maintaining taste. We’re excited that within two years, we’ve not only developed patented technology but also transformed farming practices. We aim to expand and assist small and medium-scale growers with our technology,” says Farish.
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Balasahana Suresh

25/08/2024 03:52 PM